Tag Archives: Art work

Joining an art contest or making a portfolio submission are two completely different things. You must be able to take great photos of the artwork. If your work is high quality, so should be your photographs. This covers areas like fine art competitions, impressing gallery dealers, agents, and directors. Ensure that there are no cases where the photos are either too small or out of resolution.

In cases where the piece appears poorly constructed and misrepresented, you might as well show a picture of another person’s artwork. Always work on your artwork as if it depicts your capabilities to the world. For a great example of great work, check the unique Japanese photography, which is very impressive. Here are some hacks that can help you produce high-quality photographs.

Photographing your artwork

Begin by borrowing or buying a digital camera. Ensure the camera is fully charged. Do not leave the memory card behind. Adjust the camera to its basic settings. Select ISO settings starting from the lowest. The higher the ISO, the more the grain on the image.

Some cameras recommend going with a 200 ISO setting for artwork. Another important consideration is the autofocus and adjustment of the white balance. The background illumination in the room might interfere with the lighting resulting in color tints. Auto balance remains the simplest option.

Use a tripod

To achieve proper focus, it is prudent to get a stabilizing factor such as a tripod. The tripod is great when focusing the camera on the artwork. The tripod remains the best way to ensure that the camera remains aligned to this artwork. The tripod permits zero movement for your camera which results in a sharp image.

Set the scene

The right positioning is equally important. Here you are required to pay attention to messy framing and shadows. At this point, you should ensure that the piece is set on the same level to the wall. When possible fill the frame with work without shadowing the background. For non-rectangular or 3-dimensional artwork, minimize the background distractions. Finally, frame the image against neutral colors; white remains the preferable option.

Lighting

When coming up with high-quality photographs, lighting seems to be an important factor. This creates an enormous impact on all aspects of the resulting images. On this front, you will have to use a bright light. This can be natural fluorescent or indirect lighting options. Keep off from areas with deep shadows or those that produce dappling effects. Before taking the photo, carefully position in a manner that you avoid shadows which might conceal parts of the artwork.

Finally

Ensure that the camera lens is cleaned before the shoot. Even a single dust spec can mess the work. Arrive at a zoom setting that guarantees no distortions on the images taken. After you have completed taking your images, remember to label them.…